Should the WMB Arms be merged with the off-topic forum?

Anonymous

Since most of the Arms' drinkers have left, should we merge the contents of this section in with the off-topic part of the forum?

Andy B

I'd say no.

Unless you are going to merge the MBUK Sandbox too.

I say this as it's a place for the people from those forums that makes them feel at home.

Anonymous

Unless you are going to merge the MBUK Sandbox too.

Yep, i was going to post a similar thread there too...

Satchmo245

I still post on BR and the Arms is a good place to chat with like minded people. There are still some old WMB forumites who mainly use BR so I don't think it would be fair on them.

Cazzdevil

I vote yes - people are complaining about the number of sections on the new forum so combining all the off-topic sections, and combining both office sections would reduce the number of sections by 3 which is a definite step in the right direction.

I'm not sure I see the need for the different types of riding threads either - "street, freeride, downhill" etc, maybe have them under one heading but then sub-sectioned.

Big Red S

I can't say I've anything against the idea.
Pre-merger MBUK's OT was basically just where people asked computer-related questions. That was about all the traffic it got, and it's even less now.
A long time ago it was roughly analogous with the WMB Arms, and I'd like it back there; there does seem little point in having two forums with essentially the same purpose.

Though I can understand the WMB people wanting to keep some vestige of their own forum, the complete amalgamation does seem inevitable.

I'd be against the idea of merging the sandbox with anything else, for the sake of the anything else.

Anonymous

I'm not sure I see the need for the different types of riding threads either - "street, freeride, downhill" etc, maybe have them under one heading but then sub-sectioned.

Agreed, i'm trying to get this done.

Satchmo245

Big Red S wrote:

I'd be against the idea of merging the sandbox with anything else, for the sake of the anything else.

papasmurf.

keep Arms and Sanbox and bin of off topic, even though that only loses 1 section it does mean that you can have two seperate areas for quite distinct users rather then having one which would be a bit crazy

nicklouse

the Arms fun that it is, Has only been arround for How long?

Matt you made it at the start of the year?

Anonymous

Yes Nick, true - it hasn't been around long - and it's inhabitants seem to have all migrated too.

truespin

I'm not sure it's a great idea...

the sandbox especially helps keep the hyperactive kids entertained and out of the 'serious' forums...

I'd say find a way of filtering out the forums people don't want to see - each user has a profiles page and if you put radio boxes in there and only the forums you tick appear on the forums index (or similar) that way everyone sees as much or as little as they want...

nicklouse

Re the box i am with BRS on this it would be unfair to merge it with anything.

and where would be move all the dross to?

Andy B

Why not loose the show us your commuting vids', that's a pretty much unused section.

BorisSpencer

I know it's a bit late now but a 'Community' section within the Forum structure containing the Arms, Sandbox, Cake shop, and maybe even General may have been appropriate.

Big Red S

M.Cole wrote:

I'm not sure I see the need for the different types of riding threads either - "street, freeride, downhill" etc, maybe have them under one heading but then sub-sectioned.

Agreed, i'm trying to get this done.

One big point of contention about this amalgamation was the potential loss of the discipline-specific forums, especially Trials.

Anonymous

Don't get me wrong, we won't lose them they'll just be organised better

nicklouse

Big Red S wrote:

M.Cole wrote:

I'm not sure I see the need for the different types of riding threads either - "street, freeride, downhill" etc, maybe have them under one heading but then sub-sectioned.

Agreed, i'm trying to get this done.

One big point of contention about this amalgamation was the potential loss of the discipline-specific forums, especially Trials.

i hope i read that as a riding forum with the different styles as sub fora?

Big Red S

Oh yeah, that's how I read it, too.

Just wanted to make sure.

Anonymous

i hope i read that as a riding forum with the different styles as sub fora?

Yep, tha'ts right.

nicklouse

M.Cole wrote:

i hope i read that as a riding forum with the different styles as sub fora?

Yep, tha'ts right.

good, but i still have a problem with them.

cause they are not really Riding fora they are everything to do with that style fora.

and then what about the people who just go out and ride? (eg the WMBers)


and then there is the Racing side...........

Big Red S

I'd have thought that the XC/DJ/DH/FR/Trials fora/ums would negate the need for a racing forum, since racing could be discussed in those specific forums/a.

The people who just go ride their bikes would still have the General (and all other) sections to talk in, as they did on MBUK.

fozzybear

Matt, i think you need to be totally open about your plans and ideas for the forums, in it's look and feel.

sadly we are not ALL about bikes, we are a community first and mostly. yes we ask about xx part but overall we gather together in like minded groups. so we all generally talk about rubbish and occasionally post about bikes or parts or show off our new kit.

WMTB as it function operated in the general and arms section where to be frank we talked bollocks most the time and we then ask questions to the tech areas or routes etc but the main stay of the forum were those two areas. we got to know each other got to talk about things not mtb related and banded together. i personally understand the reasons for the merger / changes but you have lost a "core" of the forum so far due to "misguided" thoughts about the forum and the merger. I think you are lucky there is a main core still with the "future" forum.

i like the site, great to read and it's a better bike magic but it still falls on deaf ears about your forum "target audiences". I am NOT trying to be scathing or put you down, i know how big a job it is trying to put all the ideas in the right places to meet all the needs of the users.
Future started off on a bad foot (too early launch of the BR forum, you could have locked it while it was beta tested and no offence [as i know what you said in CL] the management were not listening to the forum users as a group) you need to get it right this time else you will kill the forum core completely.

BRUN

id vote yes as long as the MBUK place goes the same way, only fair really, and no point having all these forums that nobody uses

you have already lost most of the MBUK and WMB members, they have left to setup their own forums which are usually busier than here, so i dont see a point in keeping those areas, and it will help to slim this place down into something more manageable

Big Red S

BRUN wrote:

id vote yes as long as the MBUK place goes the same way, only fair really, and no point having all these forums that nobody uses

Well it would if WMB Arms was merged with MBUK's OT, wouldn't it?
Or have I missed something?

guilliano

I've already posted my thoughts on this in the BR office, but for those that don't want to trawl through......

Have a single OT link, then have sub links taking you to the forums concerned, ie Sandbox, Arms, OT etc. That way you tidy up the front page, but keep everyone happy by keeping the forums they like

mc

I think sub-forums should be implemented, with the Arms and Sandbox being sub-forums for the off-topic forum.

I would hate to see the Arms lost completely, but there are too many forums.

Satchmo245

Sub fora would be a good idea if it's nested on one page with the option to collapse/expand.

gibby12100

I Think Yes... The General Concencus of WMB members is that they Dont really Care as it seems to be Turning into MBUK and we have our own place anyway . I am starting to Use This a bit more now though, as the Other Place is still not particularly busy due to it only being used by Former WMB's (No New People know it exists!)...

ratty2k

Oh, I dont know about that. Its only been open a few weeks (if that) and has 179 members...... Not too bad considering!
Theres a forum ride happening this weekend so it seems to be doing ok to me. The forum ride has also been posted here for any stragglers that haven't seen the new site yet

The BIG GT

I think that a large percentage of the ex-WMBers still visit and post here, like myself. Having more than one set of people to ask for help/get viewpoints from can only be good for the general 'education' of us riders.

This site, UK-MTB, Bike Magic and others are all in my Favourites list and I access them all over time with this being one of my main three sites. I would guess that only fairly recent 'newbies' or much older riders would only stick with one site for info?

I'd like to see the Arms stay but am happy for it to be tucked away as a sub-forum in order to make the whole Forum clearer and less cluttered.


The site is getting there and I do like the Commuter section, if only to remind people that bikes are not JUST for weekend fun and games, they can make mundane things like getting to work and going shopping more interesting.

And while, at my age, I am unlikely to ever 'get' the MBUK side of things (the mag itself leaves me pretty cold) I am finding interest in the more roadie side of things (I whispered that, just in case the MTBers are about!) and that can only be a good thing if that is the same across the membership.

The general news & reviews section is definitely the best about, so no worries there.

I'm quite happy, really!
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